MRE11 and ATM AKTivate pro-survival signaling

The Breast Cancer Tumor Suppressor TRIM29 Is Expressed via ATM-dependent Signaling in Response to Hypoxia

Reduced ATM function has been linked to breast cancer risk, and the TRIM29 protein is an emerging breast cancer tumor suppressor. Here we show that, in cultured breast tumor and non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells, TRIM29 is up-regulated in response to hypoxic stress but not DNA damage. Hypoxia-induced up-regulation of TRIM29 is dependent upon ATM and HIF1α and occurs through increased transcription of the TRIM29 gene. Basal expression of TRIM29 is also down-regulated in cells expressing diminished levels of ATM, and findings suggest that this occurs through basal NF-κB activity as knockdown of the NF-κB subunit RelA suppresses TRIM29 abundance. We have previously shown that the activity of the TWIST1 oncogene is antagonized by TRIM29 and now show that TRIM29 is necessary to block the up-regulation of TWIST1 that occurs in response to hypoxic stress. This study establishes TRIM29 as a hypoxia-induced tumor suppressor gene and provides a novel molecular mechanism for ATM-dependent breast cancer suppression.

Tug of war between survival and death: exploring ATM function in cancer

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase is a one of the main guardian of genome stability and plays a central role in the DNA damage response (DDR). The deregulation of these pathways is strongly linked to cancer initiation and progression as well as to the development of therapeutic approaches. These observations, along with reports that identify ATM loss of function as an event that may promote tumor initiation and progression, point to ATM as a bona fide tumor suppressor. The identification of ATM as a positive modulator of several signalling networks that sustain tumorigenesis, including oxidative stress, hypoxia, receptor tyrosine kinase and AKT serine-threonine kinase activation, raise the question of whether ATM function in cancer may be more complex. This review aims to give a complete overview on the work of several labs that links ATM to the control of the balance between cell survival, proliferation and death in cancer.

Dynamic inhibition of ATM kinase provides a strategy for glioblastoma multiforme radiosensitization and growth control

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is notoriously resistant to treatment. Therefore, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. ATM elicits the DNA damage response (DDR), which confers cellular radioresistance; thus, targeting the DDR with an ATM inhibitior (ATMi) is very attractive. Herein, we show that dynamic ATM kinase inhibition in the nanomolar range results in potent radiosensitization of human glioma cells, inhibits growth and does not conflict with temozolomide (TMZ) treatment. The second generation ATMi analog KU-60019 provided quick, reversible and complete inhibition of the DDR at sub-micromolar concentrations in human glioblastoma cells. KU-60019 inhibited the phosphorylation of the major DNA damage effectors p53, H2AX and KAP1 as well as AKT. Colony-forming radiosurvival showed that continuous exposure to nanomolar concentrations of KU-60019 effectively radiosensitized glioblastoma cell lines. When cells were co-treated with KU-60019 and TMZ, a slight increase in radiation-induced cell killing was noted, although TMZ alone was unable to radiosensitize these cells. In addition, without radiation, KU-60019 with or without TMZ reduced glioma cell growth but had no significant effect on the survival of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived astrocytes. Altogether, transient inhibition of the ATM kinase provides a promising strategy for radiosensitizing GBM in combination with standard treatment. In addition, without radiation, KU-60019 limits growth of glioma cells in co-culture with human astrocytes that seem unaffected by the same treatment. Thus, inter-fraction growth inhibition could perhaps be achieved in vivo with minor adverse effects to the brain.